Community Choice Energy can be one of the most powerful ways to accelerate the transition from dirty fossil to cleaner renewable energy.

The Center for Climate Protection is working to spread the adoption of Community Choice Energy with that key goal in mind throughout California.

Community Choice agencies (CCAs) are local, not-for-profit, public agencies that provide electricity service to residents and businesses. Given that they are local, with decision-making meetings open to the public, CCAs enhance energy democracy by being more accessible and accountable to the local community.

Community Choice introduces competition and consumer choice into the electricity sector with a focus on local, renewable energy to stimulate rapid innovations in clean energy systems. As not-for-profit agencies, Community Choice energy providers are not beholden to multi-million dollar CEO salaries or shareholder returns, but rather to stable, competitive pricing for consumers and increasingly resilient, clean, and local energy systems. Below are some impressive outcomes of the launch of Sonoma Clean Power, Sonoma County’s Community Choice Agency.

$690,000 in refund checks to solar customers, including about $70,000 to schools

206 electric vehicles sold/leased through SCP’s 2016 pilot Drive EverGreen program, many more by the end of 2017 in Phase 2

To help you stay apprised of developments in Community Choice, we have established several ongoing or regularly updated services.

E-news: Clean Power Exchange (CPX) e-news is a bi-weekly compilation of news, views, events, job listings, and other updates relevant to Community Choice stakeholders from throughout California. Subscribe here: http://cleanpowerexchange.org/communities/all-news/

Webinars: Monthly webinars on topics related to local clean energy and Community Choice started in mid 2017. For recordings of past webinars and to find out when the next one is coming up, visit: http://cleanpowerexchange.org/webinars/

Interactive Map: We have developed an interactive map that presents information, updated weekly, for all 58 counties and all 482 cities in the state of California, about the availability or status of Community Choice in each city or county. Visit that map here: http://cleanpowerexchange.org/california-community-choice/

What is Community Choice Energy?

Community Choice is a local program, like Sonoma Clean Power, that buys and generates electricity for business and residents. It introduces competition and choice into the electricity market with a focus on local, renewable energy to stimulate rapid innovations in clean energy systems. As local non-profit entities, Community Choice energy providers are not beholden to increasing shareholder returns, but rather to stable, competitive pricing for consumers and increasingly resilient, clean, and local energy systems.

Background:

In 2005, our analysis revealed that Community Choice was the most powerful, cost-effective solution under local control for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sonoma Clean Power, which began serving customers in May 2014, is beating even optimistic projections for emission reductions, rates, enrollment levels, and revenue generation. It’s also beating our hopes for inspiration. Within a year (from 2014 to 2015), the number of communities considering Community Choice has grown from 12 to 70.

The Center for Climate Protection is spreading the good news about Community Choice and helping other communities across California start their own programs. Together, we will reach our state’s goals to reduce emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2040.